Socio-economic problems faced by the transgender in district Rawalpindi Pakistan

Transcription

1 International Journal of Sciences & Applied Research Socio-economic problems faced by the transgender in district Rawalpindi Pakistan Azhar Sharif 1 * and Romana Mir 2 1 Research Officer, Institute of Development Research and Corresponding Capabilities, (IDRAC). 2 PMAS-AAUR. Corresponding author: *Azhar Sharif, Research Officer, Institute of Development Research and Corresponding Capabilities, (IDRAC). Abstract The transgender community in Pakistan is prevalently treated with prejudice in most walks of life. Transgender (called Khwajasira in Pakistan) reflects a group of people who enjoys the least amount of respect or rights in Pakistan. Due to the controversial nature and typical mindset of people, the subject of Transgender rights in Pakistan is not even discussed in sophisticated circles. Most people do not even consider them as a part of their community; massive rejections are often faced by transgenders in almost all the parts of Pakistan. This is a study of the socioeconomic conditions and the problems faced by members of the transgender community in the Rawalpindi region of Pakistan. The main objectives of this study include, identification of the problems faced by the transgender community living in Rawalpindi. An analysis of the on ground socio-economic conditions of this community and highlight various aspects of issues faced by the transgender community in district Rawalpindi. Members of the community selected by using simple random sampling for the purpose of interviews. The data thus, collected and analyzed through SPSS, frequency distribution and percentage tabulation. Keywords: Transgender problems, Gender, socio-economic, Human rights, Rawalpindi Introduction According to the General Statement of Human Rights (2007), Article 2 which says Every single human being is entitled to enjoy his or her human rights without distinction as to race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. But in Pakistan, we do not even think about the person who has third sex and for this reason we treat them in a curl way. We do not give them their rights for instance 36 till 2013 they were not allowable to have the national Identity card. (Yumna, 2017). It has been seen numerous conditions that at open spots average citizens and even the police harm and agony transgender on several terms like physically, verbally, sexually and inwardly. In adding to this because of their sexual orientation they are not socially putative and their family mostly favors to hand them over to the bisexual group. In additionally to this because of their sexual orientation they are not socially putative and their family typicallyfavors to

2 hand them over to the bisexual group. Furthermore, they were typicallyexcepted by their own parents, who reflect them as a cause of shame and stigmatization for the entire family. As a result of this these people faced separation from the society. They are moreoverdeprived of from getting good education as well as respectable jobs because of social stigmatization. Due to which they adopt to get into the immoral ways of living and earning (Yumna,2017). According to recent research studies conducted on transgenderism, about one out of 50 children are recognized with a transgender tendency/ potential. In other words, about 2 percent population of Pakistan is affected by transgenderism. In our society, transgenders are usually first recognized by the families. The community often mistakes them as pre-homosexuals and most Pakistani families become violent towards them. For example, strict cautions are given to them to modification their attitude and most of them are disallowed by their communities and loved ones (Mahwish,2016). A myth seems to have molded that they cannot do any work except for sing and dance. They are not preserved as equal, they live in secluded communities with their own kind, often in extreme poverty. Most are uneducated as the notion of a transgender child being brought up in a normal household and studying in a mainstream school is not an acceptable reality (Mahwish, 2016). Interview with transgender s Khan has a master degree in political science, she did not find job. She told that here is difficult to find out a job because people do not like us to work with us (transgender). Mona has a master degree in economics she told that last year I found job in Rawalpindi but after 1 month they informed me to leave this job without any reason. Sheemo is 29 years old and she is living alone. She was living separate for 21 years. She informed that when I was 9- year-old parents forced me to leave house because in our surroundings people do not accept transgenders to live with them. Chimachi was 59 years old living separately for 25 years, she was mentally upset and while interacting with researcher she was confused and disturbed. She informed that people do not like us to live with us that is why we live separately. The main objectives of the study are to identified the problems of transgender people who face different problems living in Rawalpindi area because the area of research Is Rawalpindi so all the difficulties were explained and try to sort of these problems. The second objective is to analysis the on ground socio-economic realities of this community. It is very necessary for all of us to know that what is the actual situation in which the transgender people live. How they fulfill their needs and what are the reasons they leave their family and start living with another transgender. The third objective is to examined the role of government in improving the transgender socio-economic conditions. Either the government is providing them with all facilities like other citizens or the government is just ignoring them as they are different from other public so any treatment is allowed to them. The objectives of this study are: Identification of the problems faced by the transgender community living in the Rawalpindi region of Pakistan. Analysis of the on ground socioeconomic realities of this community Examination of the government's role in improving transgender socio-economic conditions. 37

3 Materials and methods Locale The study area was Rawalpindi. The study locale was dhok kala khan from and sadar. Sampling The researchers have used simple random sampling technique. There was difficult to study all population so, 120 respondents were selected. The interview method was used to collect all relevant data. Through interview schedule the data was collected. This interview schedule was including different questions with relevant research. Severe variables wee used for data collecting based on consciousness increase through literature reviews has been done. Pretesting Interview schedule was pre-tested on 10 respondents throughout a commencement appointment of meadow previous to collecting the real data. As a consequence of pre-testing, a number of new questions were customized and a number of were additional according to supplies to obtain improved reply from the chosen population. In thorough facts compilation in the meadow face to face interviewing was adopted by researcher. Data analysis Through SPSS the data were analyzed by using frequency distribution and percentage techniques Percentage The response of frequency distribution the following formula was used: P= f/n (100) Where P= Percentage F= Absolute frequency N= Total number of respondents Results and discussions This chapter indicates the study and the debate of the data. The facts were in regular distribution tables. The discussion of finding precedes its respective tables. Finely, a brief of pertinent study has been presented. Table1 shows that below age 18 were 49.2 percent, were 35.8 percent, were 15 percent and above 40 were 1.7 percent. Table 2 shows that 50.8percent respondents were illiterate, 20.8 percent respondents take primary education, 3.3 percent respondents take middle level education, 15.8 percent respondents take high school education, 4.2 percent respondents were intermediate, 2.5 percent respondents were graduate and 2.5 percent respondents were postgraduate. Table 3 shows that 5-10 respondents were 7.5 percent who discover their biological sex,11-15 respondents were 60.8 percent who discover their biological sex and respondents were 31.7 percent who discover their biological sex. Table 4 shows that only 9.2 percent respondents were those who were supported by their families and the rest 90.8 percent respondents were not supported by their families because their families feel ashamed of them and they don t want them to live with them or they don t want to take care of them Table 5 shows those respondents who leave the family by their own will. Here 86.7 percent respondents were those who left their family by their own will and the reason they told us is that their family feel ashamed and no one respect them, their siblings also tease them and they were not given love and affection so they left family by their will. On the other hand, 13.3 percent respondents were those who said that they want to live with their family but their parents gave them to the guru because they don t need a transgender in their family. 38

4 Table 6 shows that 17.5 percent of respondents were living in separate colonies and 82.5 percent of respondents were not living in separate colonies. Table 7 shows that 69.2 percent of respondents were humiliated by their class fellows, 23.3 percent respondents were strongly agreeing that their class fellows humiliate them, 4.2 percent of respondents were disagreeing and 3.3 percent respondents were strongly disagreed. That is the reason most of the respondents were uneducated or they only take primary education. Table 8 shows that 58.3 percent respondents were agree that they don t get treatment in hospitals, 30.0 percent respondents were strongly agreeing,5.8 percent respondents were neutral,4.2 percent respondents were disagreeing and 1.7 percent respondents were strongly disagreed. The respondents told that the doctors denied them to do their checkup. Table 9 shows that 44.2 percent of the respondents were agree that they face verbal harassment, 20.8 percent of the respondents were strongly agreed, 27.5 percent of the respondents were neutral, 5.8 percent respondents were disagreed and 1.7 percent respondents were strongly disagreed. Table 10 shows that 62.5 percent of the respondents were agree that they feel insecure in public transport, 28.3 percent of the respondents were strongly agreed,5.0 percent of the respondents were disagreed and 4.2 percent respondents were strongly disagreed. The people in public transport use abuse and make fun of them. Table 11 shows that 19.2 percent of the respondents were always buried in the public graveyard, 39.2 percent of the respondents were sometimes buried and 41.7 percent or the respondents were never buried in the public graveyard. Table: 1 Distribution of respondents by their age. Age Frequency Percent Below Table 2: Distribution of respondents by their educational status. Educational Frequency Percent status Illiterate Primary Level Middle Level High School Intermediate Graduate Postgraduate Table 3: Distribution of respondents by their biological sex. Biological sex Frequency Percent Table 4: Distribution of respondents by their parent s support. Parents Support Frequency Percent Yes No Table 5: Distribution of respondents who leave family by their will. Family leave Frequency Percent Yes No

5 Table 6: Distribution of respondents by their separate colonies. Separate Colonies Frequency Percent Yes No Table 7: Distribution of respondents by humiliate their class fellows. Class mates Frequency Percent humiliate Agree Strongly agree Disagree Strongly disagree Table 8: Distribution of respondents by facing any problem in hospitals during treatment. Hospital treatment Frequency Percent Agree Strongly agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Table 9: Distribution of respondents by facing verbal harassment during treatment. Verbal harassment Frequency Percent Agree Strongly agree Neutral Disagree Strong disagree Table 10: Distribution of respondents by traveling through public transport. Public Frequency Percent transport Agree Strongly agree Disagree Strongly disagree Total Table 11: Distribution of respondents by easily get a place in the public graveyard. place in the Frequency Percent public graveyard Always Sometime Never Recommendations 1. There is need to welcome transgenders of any age and specially the transgender who are elders, requires the modification of existing services, polices and agendas. We should try to make their life easy as to tell them special and respect their feelings. 2. Study reveal that Transgender has been faced distress by getting education so there is need to readdress this problem, and we should give them separate school so they can study easily and doubt feel embrace in other people. Government should also provide them free medical especially to these who are in poor families. 3. We hate some people but we do not know because we hate them. Transgender may be suffering any genuine handicap, or psychological problem beyond their control, we should understand them. The government should try to solve their financial problems they make their life 40

6 more comfortable and productive for society at large 4. Education is the only way forward to enhance the potential of the community and have their valuable contribution to the economy. There is need a national action program for the transgender communities to involve them for socio economic development. 5. The Social Welfare Department needs to emphasis on this community and need to protect their rights, starting with education, health, and social protection. References YumnaFiaz (2017) Times of Pakistan, problems faced by transgenders in Pakistan, avaiblable at timesofpakistan.pk/opinion/ / problems-faced-by-transgender-pakistan/ /retrived on Mahwish Akhtar (2016), Trangenders problems in Pakistan, News Pakistan available at transgender-in-pakistan-by-mahwishakhtar-jinnah-university-for-women/, retrieved on Worlds times (2018) Transgenders Rights in Pakistan Still a long way to go Available at jwt2015/magazine archives/jwt2017/ february2017/transgenders-rights-inpakistan-still-a-long-way-to-go/ retrieved on Interview with khan 3 January, 2018, Dhok kala khan Rawalpindi. Interview with Mona, 5 January, 2018 Dhok kala khan Rawlpindi. Interview with Sheemo, 5 January, 2018 Dhok kala khan Rawalpindi. Interview with Chimachi, 9 january, 2018 Sadar Rawalpindi. 41